DOG GROOMING TIPS IN COLDER AND DRYIER SEASONS
Joanne from Mount Eliza Groom Room
As we head towards the colder season, “it is important to make sure that your dog’s coat is doing its job – to maintain its body temperature” says Joanne, the new salon owner at Mount Eliza Groom Room. No matter what type of dog that you have, it is not just its fur but the whole hormonal reaction of your dog will adapt to grow fur to cope with changes in the seasons. Here is Joanne’s first most important tip:
- Dog fur care and maintenance in colder seasons
Whilst fur length is important for the dog to keep warm during the colder season, how long is practical first for your pooch and secondly for your environment. Fur length can cause a slew of problems and, it simply comes right down to common sense. Maintain grooming to a length where mats and tangles do not happen. Fur tangles trap moisture in the fur & the skin. This leads to problems like bacterial infections and over-heated spots.
2. Trim nails more often
Nails are more brittle and prone to breaking during the winter. The same is true for our dogs. Cold temperatures and low humidity are the reasons for brittle nails, hence they are more likely to break. Broken nails can cause bleeding. Even if there is no blood, they can still be painful for your dog. Keeping your dog’s nails short all winter long is the best way to keep them from breaking. Make your regular bookings in advance including your own alarm reminders and you will easily keep on top of that.
“Dogs long nails upset the structure of their paw; affect the way that they walk and can cause an early-onset of arthritis. Nails can also curl into the paw pad and cause way more pain and discomfort including infections.”
- Maintain a Regular Coat Brushing Routine
Keeping your dog’s coat longer during the colder months means being very regular with the brushing. Joanne believes that dogs should be groomed more often in the colder months. Leaving the fur beyond a certain length will cause your dog’s hair to end up tangled, matted and much harder to maintain particularly with longer hair dogs. Remember their skin, beneath all of that, must be able to ‘breathe’ too! - Do you know what causes dandruff in cold seasons?
Dry air! Dry air in winter, sucking the moisture out of your dog’s skin and fur. This can lead to dandruff, irritated and itchy skin and fur that cannot keep your dog as warm as it should. A lot of dogs have skin issues in winter because of dryness. Regular bathing helps get rid of anything irritating to the skin. After a shampoo, which strips off all the oils, you need to ensure to use a good quality conditioner to replace the natural oils and avoid any consequences of itchiness or hot spots. Joanne strongly recommends using an ultra-moisturising conditioner for your dog’s bathing routine in winter. There are also leave-in conditioners that provide an even deeper moisturizing treatment. Short-furred dogs like Pitbulls and English Bulldogs are particularly prone to dry skin. Well-conditioned fur keeps away those nasty wintertime skin issues. - Extra care for dog’s nose during cold & dry seasons
One would assume a dog’s nose is not an important part of dog grooming. Our dog’s nose needs some extra care. Cold, dry air on that very exposed nose is harsh on your pooch’s nose. You want to ensure to avoid them having a dry, cracked nose. It is very uncomfortable and can even impact their sense of smell. Use a nose balm to help keep your dog’s nose soft and moist during those cold dry days.
Mt Eliza Groom Room
11/87 Mount Eliza Way, Victoria
Ph: (03) 9787 3811
OPEN: Monday to Friday: 8am to 4pm